I haven't been getting as many reviews as I'd like to with this thing so after this chapter I think I might hold off for a while before posting the next chapter. But thanx to those of you who have been reviewing.

CHAPTER 8

A couple of days after the end was brought upon the Taxi Service, the four villains and the hero were once again gathered together in the abandoned warehouse. Darkwing stood, pacing frantically, while the other four watched tentatively from their sitting positions on various boxes and crates.

"It doesn't matter where I go. Ever since we hit the Taxi Service, there's been cops constantly on my tail!" Darkwing exclaimed and threw his hands in the air exasperatedly. The four criminals calmly watched him.

"Welcome to our world, Darkwing," Megavolt commented with a snicker.

Darkwing spun around to face him, an agitated expression on his face. "I know they've been following the four of you around, too! Don't you find that just the least bit odd??"

Megavolt paused and if pondering the question hard, then finally answered with a grin on his face. "Nope!" Liquidator and Quackerjack snickered to one another as Darkwing sighed and retreated. Draco merely shook his head and absently glanced downward at the floor.

"You guys are known felons! Going to jail is nothing new to you! And you don't have anything to lose!" Darkwing explained frantically. "I've got a life! I'm not going to jail for some act you pulled!"

At this point, Quackerjack's eyes went wide and he jumped to his feet with a glower. "Hey! You had a part in it, too! If we go down, you're going to come down with us! Besides, who could have the knowledge to be following us?? No one even witnessed that crime and could pin it on us!"

Suddenly, there was the sound of a sixth party clearing his throat from the shadows on the far side of the small warehouse. All eyes instantly turned to face the newcomer, who was a tall, skinny mallard with a long chin and orange hair, somewhat resembling a thinner version of Launchpad. He wearing a business suit and carried a briefcase, giving him a professional appearance.

"Mr. Darkwing?" the man asked, his voice carrying an authorities tone to it. Darkwing stared back and remained silent in reply as the other four exchanged puzzled expressions. "I am Mr. McIntyre. I have been asked by my employer to bring a proposal to you gentleman," he explained and looked each of them over one by one as he continued. "that must be the Liquidator. I recognize Quackerjack from his mug shots as well as Megavolt. And you must be Mr. Brent," he finished with a look towards Draco who did not reply.

The five all looked from one another, shocked and confused as to how this new person could know so much. Finally, Darkwing cleared his throat and spoke up in a low voice, somewhat timid voice. "What can we do for you?"

McIntyre stepped forward to approach them, stopping a short distance away from his own safety. "My employer requires your services. One day's work, very dangerous. He does not expect all of you to live, but those who do survive will have ninety-one million dollars to divide amongst yourselves however you see fit."

"Oh yeah?" Darkwing asked with a sudden amused smirk s he folded his arms over his chest. "Yeah, right. Who's your boss?"

There was a long pause as if McIntyre was considering whether or not to reveal the information. "I work for Negaduck."

A strange look crossed Darkwing's face as soon as he heard the name. It showed skepticism, mockery, and a hint of fear. Liquidator, Megavolt, and Quackerjack all seemed to fidget in their seats, sharing similar looks. The only one who appeared to be unaware was Draco, who immediately noticed the change in the atmosphere.

"I'm sure you've heard many tall tales, myths, and legends about Negaduck. And I can assure you gentleman that most of them are true," McIntyre continued.

"Who's Negaduck?" Draco suddenly asked, no longer wanting to remain in the dark on the subject.

McIntyre noticed the uneasy expressions on the faces of the other four and turned to Draco. "Judging my the sudden change in mood, I am sure that the rest of your associates can tell you, Mr. Brent. I have come directly from Negaduck with an offer, An order, actually."

"And order?" Darkwing asked suspiciously, the uneasiness still present in his tone.

"In nineteen ninety-one, Darkwing, you participated in the interception of a hijacked truck carrying stolen raw steel. The steel belonged to Negaduck and was destined to him to be used in a nuclear reactor. You had no way of knowing this because the criminal who was driving the truck was working for Negaduck without his knowledge." McIntyre explained, then turned to face Megavolt and Quackerjack. "Earlier this year, Megavolt and Quackerjack hijacked a twin-prop cargo flight out of the St. Canard Airport carrying platinum gold wiring, also set for Negaduck's possession."

Now the man turned his gave to the Liquidator, who stared back at him almost challengingly as if interested in what McIntyre was going to say about him. "Recently, the Liquidator stole a truck carrying gun parts through downtown St. Canard…"

Immediately, all eyes were on Liquidator as they realized it was him who had stolen the truck they were brought in on the line-up for. The watery villain merely smiled guiltily and shrugged as McIntyre continued. "The gun parts were allegedly set to be destroyed by the city. They were set to 'be lost' at a weigh station and routed back to Negaduck. Again, Negaduck used pawns that had no knowledge. One cannot be betrayed if one has no persons. Which brings us to Mr. Brent…" he concluded and stared in Draco's direction, who seemed to crumple under the lawyer's hard stare.

"Nine months ago, one of Negaduck's less than intelligent couriers was taken in a complicated confidence scam….by a cripple. He was relieved of sixty-two thousand dollars," he explained and then paused to feel the tension in the air. "Now, it has taken us some time to find out. Our original intention was to approach you after your apprehension earlier."

"YOU set up the line-up…." Darkwing concluded with narrowed eyes at McIntyre, who nodded in reply.

"Yes. You were not to be released until I had come to see you. It seems that Darkwing's 'partner', Morgana McCawber, was a bit too effective in expediting his release. Holding the rest of you proved to be a moot point."

"So why are you telling us?" Liquidator spoke up in question. "Nine out of ten marine biologists say that this smells fishy!"

McIntyre raised an eyebrow at the Liquidator, having been warned about his antic in speech. When he replied, his voice was low and dark, almost threatening. "Because you have stolen from Negaduck. The fact that you did not know you stole for him is the only reason you are still alive. He feels that you owe him, and you WILL repay your debt."

"How do WE know that YOU work for Negaduck?" Megavolt suddenly asked suspiciously.

Instead of answering Megavolt's question, McIntyre continued to explain the reason for his visit. "The off is this, gentleman. Negaduck's primary interest, as you all might have noticed, is weaponry and artillery. He has been competing, shall we say, for the past several years with the Fiendish Organization for World Larceny, also known as FOWL. Their competing with Negaduck has finally taken it's toll. FOWL is negotiating the sale of ninety-one million dollars worth of guns and other artillery in three days time here in St. Canard. Needless to say, this purchase will revitalize the diminishing strength of their organization. Negaduck wants you to stop the deal. If you choose, you may wait until the buy. Whatever money changes hands is yours. The transaction will take place on a boat that will be in the Audubon Bay docks. Negaduck wants you to get to the boat and destroy the weapons on board. Then you will be free from your obligations of Negaduck."

Once the explanation of the plan was complete, Darkwing lowered his head and wandered silently over to McIntyre, stopping just inches from his face and hissed lowly. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't arrest you right now…"

McIntyre just smiled in response and held up the briefcase he had been carrying. "A gift from Negaduck," he informed before placing the briefcase on top of the small table to his side. Without another word, he turned and made his exit from the hideout.

Darkwing waited until the lawyer had left and glanced down suspiciously at the briefcase, wondering if it was booby trapped or concealed some sort of bomb. He leaned down and pressed the side of his head against it to listen carefully for any sound of ticking. Nothing. Finally coming to a decision, the masked mallard ran his hands along the side of the briefcase and flipped open the clasps holding it shut. They clicked open and Darkwing opened the case. Inside were five large manila envelopes, each of their names on one of the envelopes. Curiosity getting the better of them, the other four stood up from their sitting positions and wandered to the table, gathering around.

With a perplexed expression, Darkwing slowly removed the envelopes one by one, handing them to their owners. The one on the bottom was his, marked 'Darkwing'. He gave a sigh of relief, knowing that his identity was safe. When he opened up the envelope, he pulled out a large stack of papers and files with photos inserts. His eyes instantly widened.

"No…" the hero whispered in disbelief and shook his head. He glanced up to glance at the others, who were still staring down at their unopened envelopes that had their names on them. "Open them…" Darkwing urged.

The villains obeyed and each of them opened their envelopes. They withdrew similar stacks of papers and photos, which they thumbed through curiously and amazed. Mug shots and criminal records included in the four villains' files.

"Wow, they know everything…" Megavolt finally spoke up. "They have my whole life in here. Everything that I've done since I became a criminal when I was eighteen." Darkwing groaned and rolled his eyes, having been there for Megavolt's debut into the criminal world.

"Yeah. There's everybody I've worked with and everybody I've done time with," Quackerjack added as he dropped his papers onto the table.

Darkwing set the papers down on the table and removed a small stack of black and white photos from the envelope; photos of him and Morgana, photos of him and Gosalyn, photos of him as Drake Mallard. The mallard's eyes instantly widened as he thumbed through each of the photos. Before the others could see them, he quickly replaced them back into the envelope and let out a deep sigh, shaking his head slowly. "This is not right…"

"I don't know. I think I've heard of a guy who worked for Negaduck at one time," Quackerjack announced hesitantly. "Then I heard he died a horrible and painful death! It was worse than being tickled to death!"

"Oh, come on!" Megavolt scoffed and threw his file up in the air. The papers fluttered about to the ground, which seemed to arouse a playful attitude in Quackerjack who began to bounce excitedly through the snowing papers with insane giggles. Draco raised an eyebrow at the insane jester's antics as Megavolt continued. "This guy is just a hoax. McIntyre is just using him as a cover."

Liquidator stuck his index finger in the air declaratively. "Three out of five surveys suspect police involvement!"

"The way I hear it is that Negaduck is some kind of butcher…" Megavolt began, but was suddenly cut off as Darkwing slammed his hands down on the table with an intense glare.

"There is no Negaduck!"

Draco, who had remained relatively silent throughout the whole scene, darted his eyes from one person to the other, searching for an answer. Finally, he brought himself to ask once again. "Who is Negaduck…?"